A donut a day keeps the doctor away, right?? Donuts have been a favorite of mine since I was a kid and these mini [and healthy] donuts do not disappoint one bit. A fluffy dark chocolate and peanut butter donut topped with melted dark chocolate...I'll take one [or two, or three, or ten - let's be honest here!] They take all of six (6) minutes to bake and pack a secret punch of protein + collagen making them the perfect healthy sweet treat!

Growing up, I always went for a donut instead of a muffin. Anyone else with me? My favorites as a kid were headlights, maple frosted and the long john donuts. Maple frosted is definitely still a classic + favorite of mine today. On my family vacation last year in OBX we stopped at Duck Donuts and I did a "make your own"...OH MY GOSH. It was heavenly - maple frosted, bacon, caramel drizzle. We're doing another family vacation this summer in OBX and I'm drooling already thinking about that donut! My apartment right now in Philly is one block from Federal Donuts and it is a daily struggle to not walk to one block there for a fluffy, heavenly donut. When I do go, I go all out though and get like 4-6 donuts...for myself [#noshame].

*Now back to our regularly scheduled dark chocolate peanut butter donuts*

These little bites were so simple to make and the dark chocolate peanut butter combo is a match made in taste bud heaven! They are the perfect little treat with your morning coffee or as a late night snack [guilty of both]. You'd never be able to tell that they are packed with protein + collagen, too - a win-win!

I'd love to know if you try this recipe! Be sure to tag @thelifeshewanders and use #thelifeshewanders / #TLSWrecipe so I can see your creations.

DARK CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER DONUTS
Yields: 10-12 donuts

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 scoops Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides

• 1/2c Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Protein Mix

• 1/2c almond flour [I used Trader Joe's blanched almond flour]

• 1tsp baking powder

• 1 egg

• 2/3c Rebbl Dark Chocolate Protein

• 2tbsp peanut butter [I used Trader Joe's peanut butter with chia + flax]

DIRECTIONS:

• Preheat oven to 425 degrees

• Add all ingredients to a bowl and mix to combine

• Spray donut pan [mine is Nordic Ware from Target] with a non-stick spray of your choice

• Add two [2] spoonfuls of mix to each donut mold on the pan

• Bake at 425 degrees for 6-7 minutes

• Remove from pan and let cool on a cooling rack [mine is the Threshold from Target]

To make these an even sweeter treat, melt some dark chocolate chips with a touch of coconut oil [I used Trader Joe's triple filtered organic coconut oil]. Dip donuts in melted chocolate for a delicious "frosting" - your taste buds will thank you!